EPA

US EPA, DESIGN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SAFER DETERGENTS STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE

The Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) is a program devised by the EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) Program to provide public recognition for companies and organizations that "voluntarily commit to the use of safer surfactants." While APERC fully supports this general concept, SDSI does little to ensure that companies and products that will be recognized under the program will result in greater consumer or worker safety or improvements to the environment.

Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) are provided - without justification - as the only example of a surfactant class that does not meet the SDSI definition of a "safer surfactant." In addition, only vague decriptions are provided to define "safer surfactants." APERC has provided comments (see below) and data to EPA, which demonstrate that current uses of NPE in laundry detergents and other applications does not result in a risk to humans or the environment.

To this day, the EPA DfE program has not provided any evidence to suggest that current uses of NPEs present a risk; furthermore, the EPA DfE program has not articulated a rationale to promote even a voluntary campaign directed at deselection of NPE. While APERC appreciates that voluntary, non-regulatory initiatives can support the Agency's mandate to promote and protect public health and the environment, such programs should be grounded in sound science. The fact that SDSI is a voluntary program should not excuse the Agency from employing the same scientific principles and rigor as required in a regulatory proceeding.

Previous APERC Statements/Comments/Presentations on SDSI

Alkylphenols & Ethoxylates Research Council Comments on November 13, 2007 Federal Register Notice Regarding EPA's Information Collection Request for the Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative Program Docket ID Number: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0274 - December 13, 2007

APERC Comments on the May 9, 2007 FR Notice Regarding the Safer Detergent Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) Program - July 9, 2007

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) held its 2006 National Pretreatment and Pollution Prevention Workshop on October 4-6 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Workshop included a session called Pollution Prevention Approaches for a Safer Environment - Case Study: Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and EPA's Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative

On June 12, 2006, a public meeting was held by US EPA on the Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI). Click below to view the following statements presented during the meeting:
Robert Fensterheim - APE Research Council, Executive Director
Greg Beyer - SI Group, Executive Director of EHS
Dr. Glenn Simon - Rhodia, Director of Toxicology

Last updated: February 15, 2012

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